�Postgame: Reardon | Boatwright | Geringer

FAYETTE, Mo. - A Brittany Arnold lineout to Bri Boatwright clinched Central Methodist's third-straight Heart of America Athletic Conference softball regular-season championship and berth in the 2013 NAIA Softball National Championship.


Central Methodist (29-10-1, 15-1 HAAC) secured its third appearance all-time in the National Championship and second straight. The Opening Round will be played May 13-15.

The Eagles increased the longest win streak in school history to 14 games after blanking Evangel (24-12, 7-7 HAAC) by scores of 5-0 and 4-0 and have not allowed a run in four straight games. The Green and Black have not given up a run in nine straight HAAC games.

Central Methodist moves to 10-0 this season at Cox Softball Complex and 18-0 against HAAC opponents in the last two seasons at home. The Eagles have won 16 straight overall in Fayette dating back to last season.

Wednesday saw a pair of Central Methodist players reach or surpass milestones. Lauren Geringer (10) hit two homeruns in game two, breaking Jordyn Tolliver's 2011 record of nine. With one run scored in game one, Erika Reinagel tied Kelsey Johnley (2009-12) for the most runs scored in school history at 146.

Reinagel did not take long to tie Johnley's record, crossing home in the bottom of the first inning on a Geringer RBI double. Boatwright then jacked her first career homerun, a three-run bomb over the center field fence, in the second inning to stretch the Eagles' cushion to 4-0.

Jacqui Cappuccilli added her name to the scoring column in the sixth, belting her third homerun of the season on a solo shot to left. Cappuccilli was one of seven Central Methodist players to record one hit in game one.

Bri Ford (12-3) went the distance in the circle for the win, tossing a six-hit shutout with four strikeouts.

Pitcher Lenzie Boring (12-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in six innings. She posted five strikeouts and one walk.

Geringer did all of the heavy lifting in game two, starting off the same as game one with a RBI double in the first inning, plating Mary Kate Townley. Geringer crushed her first yard job of the contest, a solo shot to left, in the third inning. The Troy, Mo., native tagged Evangel pitcher Brooke Brenton again in the fifth with a two-run blast, her HAAC-leading 10th homer, to straight-away center before being mobbed at home plate by her teammates.


Geringer led all players in the second affair with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate to go along with four RBI and two runs scored. Townley was 2-for-4, and she and Michele Rupard each scored one run.

Aubrey Utley (15-4) pitched a complete game for the victory. She tossed a six-hit shutout with six strikeouts.

Brenton (8-6) suffered the defeat after giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits in six innings. She had two strikeouts and as many walks.

Central Methodist hosts Baker (Kan.) for a doubleheader Saturday to conclude the regular-season before taking part in the HAAC Tournament May 3-4 in Overland Park, Kan. The Eagles are the defending tournament champion.

The National Championship Opening Round features 10 four-team double elimination tournaments. The 40 qualifiers and pairings for the Opening Round will be announced May 7.